Airport border control officer accused of letting migrants into Britain on fake passports

An immigration officer working at Luton airport has appeared in court charged with possessing 13 fake passports found in his office desk.

Anthony Quarco, 44, from Croydon, South London - who has also worked as a Special Constable for the Metropolitan Police - was suspended from his border control duties after the documents were found.

Quarco - who is half Ghanaian and half Liberian - is understood to have aroused the suspicions of colleagues working at the airport and was reported to the UK Border Agency before being arrested.

Quarco is accused of allowing migrants into Britain using false identity documents

When he appeared before magistrates at Croydon Crown Court he was charged with 15 counts under the Identity Cards Act which relate to accusations he let immigrants into Britain using false documents.

The paperwork found includes items said to come from Kenya, Ghana, France and Switzerland.

Magistrates also heard a claim that Quarco may have used a false passport to enter the country as an asylum seeker in 1995. He was refused bail before being remanded into custody until next month.

Quarco - who was arrested at the Croydon home he shares with his wife - told the court that the passports found in his possession belonged to former members of his church congregation.

'As an immigration officer, special constable and a church minister he was clearly a trusted man so it was a surprise when his name came up,' said one immigration source.

Last night a UK Border Agency spokesman added: 'It would be inappropriate to comment as this investigation is ongoing. The UK Border Agency expects the highest levels of integrity from its staff and the majority of our staff carry out their roles with professionalism and integrity.

'Any allegations of corruption and misconduct are thoroughly investigated and we will take action swiftly where we find members of staff who we believe have acted inappropriately.'